Document type: Press release from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA)
Author : MASA
Preview: The French Act of Parliament to combat animal abuse and strengthening the bond between animals and humans was passed on November 30, 2021 and makes provision for the implementation of a mandatory "certificate of commitment and knowledge" for purchasers of pets and keepers of equines. The law's premier décret d’application was published today. This decree sets out the requirements for, in particular :
- the process by which holders of equidae in the context of a professional activity must make their declarations;
- the content of the declaration (in particular, the needs of the animals and the duties of the keeper with regard to their identification and the financial and practical implications of the act of purchase);
- the procedures according to which the certificates of commitment and knowledge are to be issued, the certificates being compulsory, on the one hand, for any non-professional keeper of equids and, on the other hand, for any natural person who acquires a pet for a pecuniary consideration or free of charge.
Furthermore, in the case of a placement of a pet with an adoptive family, the decree lays down the essential information to be included in the adoption contract which must be signed by adoptive families and any shelter or association without a shelter that arranges placements.
It also specifies the requirements for the online publication of advertisements for the transfer of pet ownership: these notices must appear in a separate section which must include messages of awareness and information relating to the act of acquiring an animal. Advertisements will be subject to verification, in particular, the animal's registration in the national identification file will be checked, and will be labelled as "verified advertisements".
Several additional provisions will have to be adopted by order of the Ministry of Agriculture.
These various provisions will make it possible to preserve and improve the welfare of pets and equines by raising the awareness and responsibility levels of owners. They will limit impulse purchases and improve the knowledge of keepers. In addition, keepers will have to commit to expressly respecting the needs of their animals. They form part of the national plan to combat pet abandonment put forward at the end of December 2020 by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
